LA DODGERS: 2017 104-58, first place, lost to Houston in World Series
MANAGER Dave Roberts (third season)
ADDITIONS: OF Matt Kemp, RHP Tom Koehler, LHP Scott Alexander, LHP Henry Owens
SUBTRACTIONS: 1B Adrian Gonzalez, RHP Yu Darvish, RHP Brandon Morrow, RHP Brandon McCarthy, LHP Tony Watson, LHP Luis Avilan, LHP Scott Kazmir, LHP Adam Liberatore, OF Andre Ethier, INF Charlie Culberson, OF Curtis Granderson, LHP Grant Dayton, OF Franklin Gutierrez, RHP Josh Ravin
OUTLOOK: The Dodgers are favorites to win a sixth consecutive NL West title with a roster that returns mostly intact. They lost the World Series to Houston in seven games, extending the franchise's drought to 30 years without a championship. Los Angeles had a quiet offseason, other than shedding the contracts of Gonzalez, Kazmir and McCarthy in an effort to lower payroll. The move brings the team under the luxury tax for the first time since 2012, which figures to pay off next winter when a highly anticipated group of big-name free agents becomes available. Kemp has been a surprise in his return to the club. He was acquired from Atlanta as part of the Dodgers' salary dump and figured to be traded. However, he has been a solid performer in spring training. Kershaw anchors the rotation, and Jansen is one of the best closers in the game. A multitude of veterans will be vying for playing time as a result of the team's heavy use of platoons and matchup-driven lineups. Turner suffered a wrist injury late in spring training and will miss the early portion of the season.

SAN DIEGO: 2017 71-91, fourth place
MANAGER Andy Green (third season)
ADDITIONS: 1B Eric Hosmer, 3B Chase Headley, SS Freddy Galvis, RHP Tyson Ross, RHP Bryan Mitchell, RHP Kazuhisa Makita
SUBTRACTIONS: RHP Jhoulys Chacin, INF Yangervis Solarte, LHP Travis Wood, SS Erick Aybar, SS Jose Rondon
OUTLOOK: The Padres should be more fun to watch this season with the additions of Hosmer and Galvis, but they're still not expected to contend for another year or two. There are some other interesting players on the team, including Pirela, who can play left field or second base, and Christian Villanueva, a versatile infielder who has pop in his bat. Myers moves back to the outfield to make room for Hosmer at first base, and Renfroe is expected to platoon with Pirela in left. Renfroe set a Padres rookie record with 26 home runs last year despite being sent down to Class AAA for a month.

PREVIEW

Padres hold rare NL West lead entering series with Dodgers

SAN DIEGO -- There aren't any firsts happening at Petco Park on Monday when the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres open a three-game series.

But there are a couple of things going on that haven't happened in so long that they qualify as near firsts.

One, the Padres and the Dodgers start a series with San Diego ahead in the National League West standings for the first time in almost five seasons.

Two, Robbie Erlin will be making his first start for the Padres since April 17, 2016.

And Monday will mark the first time since 2013 that the Padres and Dodgers haven't met on the Opening Day. Those matchups didn't go very well for the Padres.

Before this season, the Dodgers had won the last three season openers between the southern California rivals, the two most recent by scores of 15-0 and 14-3.

The all-left-handed opening matchup of the series will be Erlin coming out of the bullpen to make a spot start against the Dodgers' Hyun-Jin Ryu, who has a 1-0 record with a 2.79 ERA in his first two starts this year. Opposing hitters are batting only .176 against Ryu, who allowed six hits while issuing six walks in 9 2/3 innings.

Erlin, 27, will be filling the spot in the Padres' rotation left open while right-hander Luis Perdomo serves a five-day suspension for throwing behind Nolan Arenado last Wednesday afternoon and triggering a brawl at Coors Field in Colorado.

Erlin has made five relief appearances for the Padres, allowing three runs, seven hits and a walk with nine strikeouts in 11 1/3 innings for a 2.38 ERA. He threw 3 1/3 scoreless innings Friday night against the San Francisco Giants. He earlier had a 3 2/3-inning outing in relief.

Erlin made the Opening Day roster out of spring training after not pitching since a six-inning start against Arizona on April 17, 2016. Exactly one month later, Erlin had Tommy John elbow reconstruction surgery and missed the entire 2017 season.

Although Erlin hasn't pitched against the Dodgers since 2015, he has had some success. He is 1-1 lifetime against Los Angeles with a 1.17 ERA in three games (two starts).

The Dodgers have hit .173 against Erlin with a .204 on-base percentage. He has allowed nine hits and a walk against the Dodgers with 12 strikeouts in 15 1/3 innings.

"Robbie proved in spring training that he's ready to pitch again in the major leagues," Padres manager Andy Green said. "The one thing we couldn't do is get him stretched out. But he has made three longer relief appearances."

Erlin has a 5-3 record at Petco Park with a 2.71 ERA in 17 appearances (13 starts).

Ryu last pitched on April 10 against Oakland at Dodger Stadium, where he gave up one hit in six scoreless innings, picking up the win in the Dodgers' 4-0 victory. He struck out eight against one walk on 90 pitches.

Ryu last faced the Padres on Aug. 12, when he allowed three runs and seven hits in five innings. He struck out five against two walks.

In seven career starts against the Padres, Ryu has gone 4-1 with a 2.57 ERA while limiting San Diego batters to a .234 average with a 1.07 WHIP.